Staff & Board

F.S. “Buck” Ryan, J.D.

Executive Director, Snake River Waterkeeper

Buck began trout fishing and tying flies at age 7. Reading Ted Leeson and John Gierach, he developed a strong conservation ethic at a young age. Through spending most of his childhood hunting birds in rural Alabama and trout fishing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Buck’s family took annual summer family roadtrips to Idaho and Montana. From the first time he waded the waters of the Railroad Ranch outside Last Chance, he felt drawn to experience and protect the Snake River’s pristine waterways and limitless fishing, backpacking, and camping opportunities. He guided on the North Platte River in Wyoming and the Talachulitna River in Alaska, and researched wildlife ecology in Costa Rica and Ecuador before pursuing a career in public interest environmental law. His career goal since childhood has been to protect and restore fisheries for future generations. He lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and two dogs.

Andy Parker, CPA, CGMA

Andy grew up fishing the Appalachian mountains and Florida Panhandle. While guiding in Wyoming and Alaska, he developed an interest in seeing rivers treated with a long-term, sustainable focus. From home base in Alabama, he frequents various Gulf Coast destinations pursuing redfish and seasonal tarpon. In addition to his involvement in the outdoor industry, Andy owns an accounting firm which assists small businesses and operates a web-based reservation software company used by fishing guides across the country. Andy serves as Treasurer of the SRW Board and advises on matters related to accounting and finances.

Nate Smith, J.D.

While growing up in Florida, Nate discovered his love for the West and its rivers during family road trips to Colorado. Mr. Smith is an avid snowboarder and climber who pursued his passion for natural environments in a law degree at Vermont Law School. As a private attorney focused in land use and water law, he provides diverse experience and litigation advice to the Board. He gets plenty of fresh air riding a gondola to work and snowboarding on his lunch break.

Bryan Hurlbutt

Bryan is a staff attorney at Advocates for the West, a Boise-based public interest environmental law firm. His litigation focuses on improving water quality and stream flows throughout Idaho and protecting our public lands from large-scale mining projects. When he’s not in the office, you’re likely to run into Bryan running in the Boise Foothills or exploring Idaho with his kids.

Bryan graduated from Colorado College in 2004 and Columbia Law School in 2010. During law school, Bryan interned at Hudson Riverkeeper and at the Waterkeeper Alliance.

Bryan grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he learned to rock climb, hike, and paddle in the Snake River canyon. When Bryan left Twin Falls college and began exploring more of the West, he realized what a remarkable — but under-appreciated — treasure the Snake River canyon is. With towering basalt cliffs, crystal clear lakes and springs, countless waterfalls, and one of the West’s mightiest rivers, the Snake River canyon near Twin Falls is a strikingly beautiful, geologic wonder. But the canyon has been treated poorly. Many of its famous “Thousand Springs” are dammed or no longer have enough water to flow. The Snake runs murky brown. Salmon no longer migrate from the canyon to Pacific Ocean and back.

Bryan joined the SRK board in 2017, and looks forward to restoring the Snake River.

Every individual who derives inner satisfaction from the sight, sound and presence of clear, clean water has a responsibility which cannot and must not be ignored. Our water resources are not limitless and, generally, when lost, are lost forever. None of our resources that are worth saving should be abandoned to industry, development, or just plain carelessness, without inquiry and a proper fight mounted if deemed necessary. – Stanley Bryer, The Stream Conservation Handbook (1974)